[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6198481,"mediaKeyId","3846789-fa977cd7a0448751e051b3f97d303f17","parentId",3846789,"title","Harnett County commissioners table rezoning request for 1.96-acre parcel on US 401 pending traffic signal and safety data","audioSeconds",2152,"startMs",1075000,"endMs",3227000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846789-fa977cd7a0448751e051b3f97d303f17&start=1075&end=3227","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846789-fa977cd7a0448751e051b3f97d303f17/thumbnail_1075000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6198481/Harnett-County/North-Carolina/Harnett-County-commissioners-table-rezoning-request-for-196-acre-parcel-on-US-401-pending-traffic-signal-and-safety-data","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198481-89f0188b149a9bd58a497011499bb3e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1777408266&Signature=QF3Y9wzrInqcNe4b5487YW692u3djF9EBak123hZhPvkGOOd09yTaf0cQRbTbs3IwvVHIJOqMZu0wA7bJtPGWOmmtMBtllZyzUae1vn9qUB471Fw9oOBvDZWgsUnQsCsa0vCebTF0QYJXiSJmZk5aeEpyapiLXtufwZ2c2k6feAQ8cYWlcDQxcc8fRURVFojgo3SWllkcmr8MqpHBNPI2orr0Tn0jzkt1XbSLdvJT3Q0zhFPCYFaVCNyXCDJ3A9zKltR~B1mlzSlrGnQ2Sjexct6QxGuqWHensA~2hnZXfBvhlwpauQcp9MNRBTiUQ3PEVwVJdfQKE6SJKiKngM0uA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Harnett County, NC","date","2025-06-17T09:01:55.267Z","article","The Harnett County Board of Commissioners on June 16 tabled a request to rezone a roughly 1.96-acre parcel along U.S. 401 in Hector's Creek Township from RA-40 to commercial, directing staff to gather more information about a planned traffic signal and safety improvements before deciding.

The measure matters because the property sits at a busy intersection with a nearby railroad and existing congestion on U.S. 401; commissioners and speakers said additional engineering and timing information about a planned traffic signal at Piney Grove Road and U.S. 401 are needed to judge public safety.

Planning staff told the board the parcel is currently zoned RA-40 and lies within the county’s recently adopted future land use map’s commercial/mixed-use corridor. The staff presentation noted public water is available but public sewer is not and that the site “will have to rely on private septic for waste disposal.” Staff records show the planning board voted 5-0 to recommend approval; staff also reported two residents attended the planning-board meeting in opposition, citing traffic and safety concerns.

The applicant, land-use attorney Hunter Winstead of Morning Star Law Group, representing Blissful Realty, told commissioners the site is “a requested rezoning from the RA 40 zoning district to the commercial zoning district,” and argued the parcel is appropriate for medium-scale neighborhood retail that would serve drivers on U.S. 401 and nearby residents. Winstead said the section of U.S. 401 near the site carries about 10,000 daily trips and Piney Grove/Ross Road about 11,000 daily trips, and that a traffic signal at Piney Grove and U.S. 401 is planned for this fall by a nearby developer.

Multiple nearby residents opposed the rezoning at the public hearing, citing intersection congestion, crash history and the adjacent railroad. Donna Waldron said the intersection is “a fender bender zone” and described daily backups that make turning into nearby subdivisions difficult. Margaret Morton, who commutes the corridor, told commissioners traffic movements at the site create a “game of Frogger” for drivers and called the location “very hazardous.” Tanya White Anderson said the site is “so narrow” and worried about ingress/egress and parking. Gary Smith, a Ross Baptist Church deacon whose church property borders the site, said the church playground would be “within, I would say, 100 yards of the property line” and asked the board to consider safety and emergency access. Larry Mitchell raised concerns about the railroad and emergency-vehicle access.

During deliberations a commissioner moved to deny the rezoning; that motion did not carry. The board later voted to table the request and directed staff to return with additional information about the status and timeline for the traffic signal, traffic engineering, and other safety measures before taking a final vote.

The commission did not adopt or deny the rezoning at the June 16 meeting; the item will return after staff provides the requested traffic and safety updates.

For now, the county’s planning record remains that the planning board recommended approval 5-0 and the applicant’s conceptual materials indicate curb access would be on U.S. 401 and that final traffic engineering would be completed at site-plan stage.

The board’s action preserves time for further study of traffic signals, turn lanes and DOT requirements before any change to the parcel’s zoning.

Next steps: staff will report back with engineering and NCDOT information about the Piney Grove–U.S. 401 signal timeline and any required right-of-way or turn-lane work before the commissioners consider a final vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting 06/16/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Harnett County Board of Commissioners on June 16 tabled a request to rezone a roughly 1.96-acre parcel along U.S. 401 in Hector's Creek Township from RA-40 to commercial, directing staff to gather more information about a planned traffic signal and safety improvements before deciding.","taxTitle","Harnett County, North Carolina","taxId",13715,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6198468,"Resident urges separation of jail healthcare oversight from sheriff—or proposed detention-area health services",208,829000,1037000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846789-fa977cd7a0448751e051b3f97d303f17&start=829&end=1037","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846789-fa977cd7a0448751e051b3f97d303f17/thumbnail_829000.jpg","/articles/6198468/Harnett-County/North-Carolina/Resident-urges-separation-of-jail-healthcare-oversight-from-sheriffor-proposed-detention-area-health-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198468-cb2d3fe9898f88e4ee120498dc3fda00/orig.mp4?Expires=1777408266&Signature=PzL~ZldUqhyRks9yNIjZF3PAdcOglBnMp0Mn4~wHCNBspewovILrhba5wfZdWV6nh47hblwXmdz7AvT1mPjvuRcJwooMfmBP-7PoostmTq-pwaML5T5SxARNcoCZE0WQmr5w2B~FkA9ylH-ZxJzLmrwbpugU-8A5mIXl9vkg3SOyuumIkRmXSe2yp3-TM1bhzDo1zudEIPyxug~SsKhHF8eF7QdCvfPn6~zdooqBOWbPXUlke1AqJl6b3Xodg7sol5kOVpyrtZ8Whk35Lw-EyH-IctskgPwFPiu09XA-rmMznN~spaTZIZNRIoF6j9aKiAcZJ9HV6waSefdoTI2BsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Harnett County resident told the Board of Commissioners on June 16 that expansion of health services tied to the county detention center should not be overseen by the sheriff
nd urged independent oversight and stronger controls to stop alleged drug access in custody.

The comment matters because the county is considering health-related facilities connected with the detention center; the resident said oversight structure and accountability will affect whether the programs deliver treatment or merely generate revenue without reducing substance access for people in custody.

Alan Longman, a resident who identified concerns about recent deaths in the detention center, said he supports health care expansion but wants an oversight structure separate from the sheriff\u000because, he said, \"I don't want sheriff's department to have a separate division that was independent of the present sheriff... They need to be separate.\" Longman described allegations he has heard that drugs and drug sales occur within jails and said stronger transparency — cameras, independent monitoring and financial oversight — are necessary if the county expands jail-linked health services. \"I am for health care completely, but I have my doubts about how efficiently it's going to be run,\" he said.

Longman asked the commissioners to ensure procurement and contract decisions are transparent and to put accountable leadership in place for any treatment programs tied to the detention facility. The board received the comment during the public-comment period and did not take immediate action on oversight or procurement policy.

The comment is part of the public meeting record and may inform future discussions about the design, oversight and contracting for health services associated with the detention center.","A public commenter supported county-funded health services but urged independent oversight rather than placing expanded health offices under the sheriff, citing past overdose deaths and concerns about drugs inside the detention center.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6198474,"Resident urges Harnett County to plan for electromagnetic-pulse and prolonged power loss",286,534000,820000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846789-fa977cd7a0448751e051b3f97d303f17&start=534&end=820","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846789-fa977cd7a0448751e051b3f97d303f17/thumbnail_534000.jpg","/articles/6198474/Harnett-County/North-Carolina/Resident-urges-Harnett-County-to-plan-for-electromagnetic-pulse-and-prolonged-power-loss","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198474-4b0b3a007f87479936c2935b2e0209b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1777408266&Signature=BUKvjOHZfRyMVYCjHuhgfxSkr3IfzhYMNCVw5QNDw0wkOiH8Lth1LwpxcVd~Q2LRZnyLrqlV0BC1ZHeMfhiUQr2~ovRobPQ~mMTJuFx-oyhllfqI8R9Y0-MbI~m172~YTByksG3aKZDUjSZOEnQtvwwbU~jJnXAHrhUA4lc8rTAjHl5rD-mGI4-Ag4~h7kuSYBPdY6-TT7PE-cIbitIDTC6c8-gswdb2m4wzIpbImtLO-oNkHgvE0pmEiblbEmXXmJU-5US7nj3WWIImgl7McZ6uy7EVJqxSR-eHDHbOnG2q7js0i7srb5zQVo8Cyc0sRab-2owJ5Xh~yF-RJadoUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Harnett County resident told commissioners on June 16 the county should plan for manmade grid losses including electromagnetic-pulse (EMP) events and strengthen local emergency preparations and public information.

The topic matters, the speaker said, because electricity is central to emergency services, health-care needs and daily life; prolonged outages would particularly affect seniors, people with medical needs and low-income residents, he said.

Larry Mitchell, speaking during the public comment period, said electricity powers 911 centers, the sheriff’s office and hospitals and that an EMP or other manmade event could render transformers and vehicle electronics inoperable. “If we have an EMP … it could be down for 3 days, it could be down for a month, or it could be down for years,” Mitchell said. He told commissioners that transformers are expensive, often manufactured abroad, and take a long time to replace.

Mitchell suggested the county consider devices that can protect emergency vehicles from EMP effects and asked emergency-management staff to develop public guidance for prolonged grid failures. “We need to look at that in our emergency services in these manmade, disasters, short term and long term,” he said, and urged the county to “inform the public what to do when the grid goes down.”

The county did not take any formal action on the comment; commissioners acknowledged the remarks and emergency-services materials on harnett.org but did not adopt new policy during the meeting.

The comment is recorded in the public record and may inform future conversations between the board and county emergency management about resilience planning and outreach to vulnerable populations.","During public comment a resident warned of risks from prolonged grid failures and electromagnetic pulses (EMP), urged county emergency services to plan for transformer and vehicle vulnerability and asked the county to inform vulnerable residents about survival steps.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6198478,"Harnett County adopts FY 2025–26 budget using $20.2 million of fund balance; commissioners request plan to rebuild reserves",1612,3330000,4942000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846789-fa977cd7a0448751e051b3f97d303f17&start=3330&end=4942","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846789-fa977cd7a0448751e051b3f97d303f17/thumbnail_3330000.jpg","/articles/6198478/Harnett-County/North-Carolina/Harnett-County-adopts-FY-202526-budget-using-202-million-of-fund-balance-commissioners-request-plan-to-rebuild-reserves","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198478-712cf21913a57b74182a1b2d9cb43343/orig.mp4?Expires=1777408266&Signature=bPyW7sIW1OCJfNAsgtPuzC7ttLtJuj64RwtDDP~B9t5ealMfQ3wID6PvwCPR4kRbF1kYcKDAH14wJHNNnqoi4PI3h9T4UqHE3M6elVlJ7ov19bv3JOQb0jX1LexFSHX2ySQXOdvox59kfzGI7n-u7JbHw3A7dTvEKDWsocVyKT9HGxocEJ71x07ilvfb5~6HssCptMWeVU~QLMw48Tz0ALLK4CNd2Id8BvKX6ZN9UX~aftCOoFZ~3JVmfoYJAfi0VdFAtIC6PD-gIFN2MhPhQsO2vNGGDx8CeBOYW9NPjzRRilbHtu2~Du0r606YyO5xz15DmVLoqzldNBKavXHzsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","HARNETT COUNTY, N.C. — The Harnett County Board of Commissioners on June 16 adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 budget and approved an appropriation of $20,210,244 from fund balance to support operations and school funding, while directing staff to prepare a plan to rebuild reserve levels to the county’s 20% target.

The budget adoption matters because the appropriation reduces unassigned fund balance below the county\u000board
nd rating-agency target and the commissioners emphasized the need for a documented plan to restore reserves to protect the county\fredit standing and meet future capital needs.

County financial staff said the proposed general fund appropriation and other adjustments left the general fund unchanged for the year and that the appropriation would lower estimated unassigned fund balance to approximately 17.58%. Finance staff briefed the board on the county\u000fiscal policy: “the unassigned fund balance at that time was at 33%,” and the policy requires an unassigned fund balance of no lower than 15% with a target of 20%.

Kimberly (finance staff) explained that recent appropriations and state funding formulas have driven higher one-time uses of fund balance, and she urged the board to include a short plan in the budget ordinance specifying how the county will rebuild reserves in future budgets. She noted the county\u000benefit from strong reserves when borrowing for capital projects and recommended documenting the plan for rating agencies.

One commissioner moved approval of the budget “as presented with the statement that a plan of action that they have given us,” and the motion passed. After the vote county staff said the full budget document would be published online by Wednesday and the complete budget book would follow within about a week.

Board members discussed that the appropriation is allowable under county policy (not to fall below a 15% unassigned minimum at fiscal-year end) but stressed the need for a concrete, time-bound plan to return to the 20% target before the county issues future debt for capital projects such as schools. Staff said they expect residual year-end savings of roughly $2 million–$3 million this fiscal year, which could modestly improve the ending percentage.

The board also approved related budget amendments and directed staff to present a formal reserve-restoration plan during the upcoming capital-improvement planning cycle.","The Board approved the county\u000budget and included a $20,210,244 appropriation of fund balance to hold school funding and capital plans; county staff said the appropriation will leave estimated unassigned reserves near 17.5% and urged a plan to restore the policy target of 20%.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Harnett County commissioners table rezoning request for 1.96-acre parcel on US 401 pending traffic signal and safety data

Resident urges separation of jail healthcare oversight from sheriff—or proposed detention-area health services

Resident urges Harnett County to plan for electromagnetic-pulse and prolonged power loss

Harnett County adopts FY 2025–26 budget using $20.2 million of fund balance; commissioners request plan to rebuild reserves